GREENFIELD, Ind. — Planted in the front yard of the Teusch home in Greenfield is a tree known as "Sammy's Tree."
As it continues to grow, so does the push for stricter anti-bullying legislation.
"It's one of those things that if we don't come together and do something like this, it's pointless that this happened to Sammy," Sam Teusch said.
Teusch's son, Sammy, died by suicide at his home on May 5.
The 10-year-old's death touched people's hearts all across the nation. That includes 15-year-old Ayaan Moledina out of Texas, who wrote what he's named "Sammy's Anti-Bullying Act."
"What this bill would do is require school districts receiving federal funds to publish a uniform bullying reporting form and establish bullying reports from all community members, also making sure those districts have regularly updating policy prohibiting bullying and cyberbullying and that it follows a federal definition of bullying and cyberbullying, which is currently not in law code," Moledina said.
While Moledina hopes to receive a sponsor in Congress, he also aims to ensure schools across the nation, including here in Indiana, are holding the bullies responsible.
He said right now, there are too many loopholes in bullying guidelines.
"And now, those schools and districts are establishing a rule that in order to take action against a student in acts of bullying, it has to be in three separate categories. I have to cyberbully someone, I have to punch someone, only after verbally abusing someone for action to be taken against me. I can't punch someone three times and that can be considered bullying," Moledina said.
Teusch said he even brought the bill up during his conversation with Gov. Eric Holcomb, who he said seemed interested in it.
"I've seen these lawmakers with tears in their eyes talking about this. I know they're compassionate people. I know that they know they want to help us, but how?" Teusch said. "This is your chance. This isn't anything else that we as American people don't really care about. This is something we care about. Do something."
Moledina said he's had several of his bills brought to the floor of Congress.
And while they haven't been signed into law for one reason or another, he hopes Sammy's story will reach across the aisle and bring people together.
Bullying resources
If you or a child you know is dealing with bullying, there are resources available.
The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry has a full bullying resource center. Stomp Out Bullying has resources for parents of children who are being bullied.
Safekids.com has resources focused on cyberbulling, which can follow kids even outside of school.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It's available 24/7.